I hate lists like this, but I'm writing one anyway. Dedicated string players practice every day, thinking that's the way to improve. If you assume this, you're right, but are you getting the most out of your days and weeks practicing? Maybe not. Here are some commonly made, but rarely acknowledged mistakes that really put string players off their game of practicing.
1) Having TWDs in the studio:
TWDs (or time wasting devices) such as TV sets, smartphones, laptops, and tablets, have no place in the practice studio. You might say that it's great to be able to pull up a YouTube video of a great performer while you are practicing, but can you remember the last time you just watched only what you went there to watch? I didn't think so. There are also a lot of different apps that enable a device to be a tuner, metronome, or other musical device, but they give to the practice session far less than the device itself takes away by its mere presence. Get a tuner and a metronome. It is OK to have time set aside and a separate space to listen to recordings and watch videos. Bottom line, if it has a screen, get it out of your practice!
2) Not structuring your practice time:
Great!!! You have a two hour block of time set aside to practice. Do you know how you will spend this time? You can focus your practice time much better if you take a few minutes and plan out the next hours. Divide your time however you think you need, and write it down. Don't forget to include time for scales, etudes, and simple exercises on sound. Take a look through your repertoire, and see which movements and passages need your attention that day. Include some time for full "performances" of longer chunks of your music. Most importantly, stick to your plan. If you decide to spend 15 minutes polishing a passage, spend that time on that passage, even if you think it sounds good already--there's always something more to do. On the flip side, don't push your schedule back because you are still not satisfied with a certain section--move on and spend more time in another session.
3) Practicing what already sounds good:
This entry could also be called "avoiding what sounds bad." We like to sound good, but we have to give that up sometimes. I hear so many performances that have great moments, but one or two problem spots that just ruin the whole thing. If there are a few spots that just aren't coming together, set aside extra time for those. Beyond spending time, actively diagnose what is wrong. Usually, the problem can be reduced to a string crossing, a shift, or a bow change.
4) Leaving it all up to the teacher:
There is one person in the world who can be your best teacher. He or she can be with you for the rest of your life. You never have to pay a dime. This person is on call any time of the day or night. Who is this great person? It's YOU! No teacher should let you crash through the same passage over and over again, so don't do this yourself. Always ask yourself what you can do better and how you can do it. Your teacher will give you a lot of important information, but you need to teach yourself these concepts between lessons. For young students, parents should pay attention in lessons and assist in the process.
This list is not exhaustive, but will help you to follow my motto: "practice smarter, not harder!"
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